Pivoted outer jaw pipe wrench



Sept. 20, 1960 J. L. NOLEN PIVOTED OUTER JAW PIPE WRENCH Filed May 1, 1959 INVENTOR.

' A/OL E/v',

JOHN L W M+EMW limited States Patent PIVOTED OUTER JAW PIPE WREN CH John L. .Nolen, El .Campo, Tex.. (Box 276, Louise, Tex.);.

MildredNolen, executrix. of saidJohn L. Nolen, de-- ceased Filed May 1, 1959; Ser; No. 810,419

4Claims.. (Cl..81.99)

This invention relates-to a noveland improved'pivoted' outer jaw pipe-wrench.

Theprimaryobject of the invention is to provide a simpler, more easily operated, stronger and more efficient pipe wrench of the kind indicated above which provides a positive non-slip grip on pipe, such as oil-field pipe, to the extent that the pipe embraced by the jaws of the wrench will yield before the jaws vw'll slip around the pipe, when properly applied to the pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe the invention .will be apparent from the following descrip-- tionand the accompanying drawings, wherein, for pur poses of illustration only, av specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a contracted side elevation of a pipe wrench of'the'invention, the movable jaw being in partially open position;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, elevation of the side'of the wrench opposite that shown in Figure 1, and showing the jawsapplied to turn a pipe positioned between the jaws.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated pipe wrench comprises an elongated rigid, and preferably;straight-handle or lever bar 12 whichhas fixed on its rear end a transverse hand grip bar 14. At its forward end the lever bar 12 is widened to provide a flat, longitudinally elongated clevis 16 having parallel spacedlegs 18, havingfree--forward ends 20. A transverse assembling and pivotbolt 22 extends removably through centered and registered holes 34- provided in the clevis legs 18at their free ends.

Removably and fixedly mounted on the outward sides of the clevis legs 18 and extending forwardly beyond their free ends 20,- are similar longitudinally elongated fixed jaw blocks 26 which together define a fixed jaw 28. The blocks 26 have in their rear halves longitudinal grooves 30 which open to the rear ends of the blocks and conformably receive outward side portions of the clevis legs 18, as seen in Figure 2. In addition, pairs of spaced and opposed, laterally inwardly extending lugs 32 on the rear ends of the blocks 26 engage the upper and lower sides 35, 36, respectively, of the clevis 16. In line with the clevis leg bolt holes 34 the blocks 26 have holes 38, through which bolt 22 passes. These arrangements pro vide rigid, strong, and parallel spaced mountings of the jaw blocks 26 on the clevis legs 18. The jaw blocks 26 have forward portions reaching forwardly beyond the -movable jaw 48 when desired, as whenthe ice clevis legs 18 which are leafor spear-head shaped, and

have similar longitudinally and convexly curved andforwardly converging'upper and lower toothed edges 42, 44, respectively, which meet in points 46 at their forward ends, which are on the centerlines of thejaw' blocks 26, and the centerline of the handle bar 12. ltiisto-benotedthat the fixed jaw blocks 26 cantbe reversed to opposite sides. of. the clevis to present the toothed edges 44to the toothed edges 42 have. become worn.

'I'he'illustrated pipe wrench further comprises an L-- ward'ly from therear endthereof, .the arm'50 is provided with a transverse pivot hole 54 which receives the bolt 22 and which positions the movable jaw 48- swingably betweemtheclevis arms 18, with theshort arm 52 spacedv forwardly from the forward. end of the fixed jaw 28..

Spacing washers 55 are positioned on the bolt 22 between the opposite sides of the long. arm 50 and the-inward sides of the clevis legs 18.

F or. holding the movable jaw 48 away from the. related; side of. the fixed jaw 28, to facilitate application. of the.

wrenchto apipe, a spring arrangement is provided, which comprises an Lrshaped, rearwardly extending lug 56.-

which. is fixed. on and rises.from a middle partof the.-

upper. side. 58 ofthe. long arm 50,". andterminates at. its. rear. endin a clevis 60 across which extends a;bolt'or rivet: 62; An upstanding rigid car 64 is. fixed ontheupperv side.

34 of the clevis 16 at a point near-thezrear: end of the clevis and spaced at a substantial distance behindzthe fixed; jaw 28: and. hencefrom the pivot bolt. 22' and the rear end of the movablejaw. 48. A threaded shaft 66 slides through an opening 67 in the ear 64'andhas achamfered nut 681threaded on its rear-end for stop engagement, at

times, with the rearwardside of the car 64. The shaft: 16 is pivotally secured, at its. forwardend, to the bolt 62.

between the arms of the clevis 60. Circumposedomthe. shaft 66 and compressed between the car: 64' andran annular flange 760m the shaft 66 is a heavy helical spring:

72. The nut 68. is adjustable on the shaft 66- to bear. against the ear 64 andholdthe movable jaw in a partly. open position, as in Figure 1.

For easy opening-of the movable jaw 48 to release it; from a pipe P gripped betweenitiand: the. fixed jaw, as.

shown in Figure 3, andto facilitate disengagement;of the; jaws from thepipe, an outstanding jaw handle-.74 is provided on theforward side of the short arm 52 near. its free end 76, and comprises an armv 78 extending atrightn angles to the arm 52 and terminating at its outer'endfin a lateral hand stop80 which is directed. downwardly or. away from the long arm 50. Pulling up on the jaw; handle 74 opens the movable jaw 48 against the resistance of the spring 72.

Fixed on and extending rearwardly at; right angles to the short jaw arm 52 at the free end thereof is a nose 82 which has a flat inward side 84 facing and parallel to the inward or lower side 86 of the long arm 59, and the inward or rearward side 88 of the short arm 52 is flat and at right angles to the sides 84 and 86. In the sides 84 and 86 are formed lengthwise, centered squared grooves 90 and 92, respectively, in which are seated the lengthwise, centered ribs 94 on the inner sides of removable jaw blocks 96 and 98, respectively, which have longitudinally spaced, pipe-gripping teeth on the outward sides. The toothed outer sides of the jaw blocks 96, 98 are fiat or rectilinear as compared to the longitudinal curvature of the toothed sides of the fixed jaw blocks 26. The jaw blocks 96, 98 are fixed removably in place by means of screws or pins 102, 104 which pass through the related jaw arms and through the related jaw block ribs. Further, the jaw blocks 96, 98 abut each other and the inward side 8410f the nose Slat related ends,whereby these'blocks are further stabilized in their positions.

As indicated in Figure 3, the wrench is applied to rotate a pipe P by pulling the movable jaw 48 away from the fixed jaw 28, against the resistance of the spring 72 or by forcing the jaws onto the pipe, utilizingthe angled cam surface 106 on the inward corner of the movable jaw nose 82 and the angularity of the related toothed edge of the fixed jaw 28, so that the toothed sides of both of the movable jaw blocks 96 and 98 engage the pipe P at two circumferentially spaced points, and the toothed edges of the fixed jaw blocks 26 engage the opposite side of the pipe from the movable jaw block. Thereupon, swinging of the lever bar 12 in the appropi-rate direction tightens the jaws on the pipe P and causes their teeth to bite into and attain a positive, firm-grip on the pipe.

Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and

outstanding jaw-opening handle means on the short arm of the movable jaw for opening the movable jaw against from the legs, means preventing rotation of the fixed jaw blocks on the legs, .an assembling and pivot bolt extending through the fixed jaw blocks inthe clevis legs'and holding the fixed jaw blocks in place thereon, said fixed jaw blocks having longitudinally and convexly curved toothed edges, an L-shaped movable jaw having a longitudinal that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: i

1. A pipe tongs comprising an elongated lever having a forward end, a pair of laterally spaced fixed longitudinal jaws mounted on said forward end and having longitu dinally and convexly curved toothed edges, an L-shaped movable jaw having a longitudinal arm, said longitudinal arm being disposed between said fixed jaws, a short arm on. the forward end of said longitudinalarm and being at right angles to said longitudinal arm'and spaced forwardly from the' forward end of the fixed jaws, means pivoting said longitudinal 'arm at a point intermediate its ends'on said lever at a point behind said fixed jaws, said longitudinal arm and saidshort arm having intersecting inward gripping sides facing the curved toothed edges of the fixed jaws, and expanding spring means acting between said lever and said movable jaw at a point rear-' wardly of the fixed jaws and a point intermediate the ends of the longitudinal arm thereofand urging said movable jaw toward said fixed jaws. j

2. A pipe tongs comprising an elongated lever having a forward end, a pair of laterally spaced fixed longitudinal jaws mounted on said forward end and having longitudinally and convexly curved toothed edges, an L-shaped movable jaw having a longitudinal arm, said longitudinal arm being disposed between the fixed jaws, a short arm on' the forward end of the longitudinal arm and being at right angles to said longitudinal arm and extending crosswise of said fixed jaws, means pivoting said longitudinal arm at a point intermediate its ends on said lever at a point rearward of the fixed jaws, said longitudinal arm and said short arm having inward gripping sides facing the curved toothed edges of the fixed jaws, spring means acting between said lever and said movable jaw at a point rearwardly of thefixed jaws and at a point intermediate the ends of the longitudinal arm thereof and urging said movable jaw toward said fixed jaws, and

arm and having a short lateral arm onits forward end extending crosswise of said fixed jaw blocks, said arms having inward sides, said longitudinal arm being journaled on said bolt between the clevis legs at a point intermediate the ends of the longitudinal arm with said short arm spaced forwardly from thefixed jaw blocks,an outstand-.

ing lug on the outward side of said longitudinalar-m, a fixed outstanding car on said clevis at a point spaced rearwardly from the fixed jaw blocks and the rear end of the longitudinal arm, a spring secured to and compressed be tween said lug and said can and urging said movable jaw away from said fixed jaw blocks.

4. A pipe tongs comprising an elongated handle lever having a longitudinal clevis on its forwardend, said clevis having laterally spaced legs having free forward ends, a: fixed jaw comprising a pair of fixed longitudinal jaw blocks removably engaged with the outward sides of said legs, means preventing'rotation of the fixed jaw blocks on thelegs, an assembling and pivot bolt extending through V the fixed jaw blocks and the clevis legs and holding the fixed jawblocks in place thereon, said fixed jaw bloclts having longitudinally and convexly curved toothed edges, an L'shaped inovable jaw having a longitudinal arm having a short lateral arm on its forward end extending crosswise of said fixed jaw, said arms having inward sides, said longitudinal arm being journaled on said bolt between the clevis legs at a point intermediate the ends of the long arms, with said short arm spaced forwardly fromthe fixed jaws, 'an outstanding lug on the outward 1 side of. said long arm, a fixed outstanding car on said clevis at a point spaced rearwardly from the fixed jaw and the rear end of the long arm, a spring secured to and compressed between said lug and said ear and-urging said movable jaw away from said fixed jaws, said fixed jaw blocks having grooves in their inward sides receiving portions of the outward sides of the clevis legs and constituting said rotation preventing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

